Tulane University Researchers Discover Bacteria Strain That Converts Newsprint to Butanol
Date Posted: August 26, 2011
Here’s one way that old-fashioned newsprint beats the Internet.
Tulane University scientists have discovered a novel bacterial strain, dubbed “TU-103,” that can use paper to produce butanol, a biofuel that can serve as a substitute for gasoline.
They are currently experimenting with old editions of the Times Picayune newspaper with great success.
TU-103 is the first bacterial strain from nature that produces butanol directly from cellulose, an organic compound.
“Cellulose is found in all green plants, and is the most abundant organic material on earth, and converting it into butanol is the dream of many,” said Harshad Velankar, a postdoctoral fellow in David Mullin’s lab in Tulane’s Department of Cell and Molecular Biology.
“In the United States alone, at least 323 million tons of cellulosic materials that could be used to produce butanol are thrown out each year.”
Mullin’s lab first identified TU-103 in animal droppings, cultivated it and developed a method for using it to produce butanol. A patent is pending on the process.
“Most important about this discovery is TU-103’s ability to produce butanol directly from cellulose,” explained Mullin.
He added that TU-103 is the only known butanol-producing clostridial strain that can grow and produce butanol in the presence of oxygen, which kills other butanol-producing bacteria.
Having to produce butanol in an oxygen-free space increases the costs of production.
As a biofuel, butanol is superior to ethanol (commonly produced from corn sugar) because it can readily fuel existing motor vehicles without any modifications to the engine, can be transported through existing fuel pipelines, is less corrosive, and contains more energy than ethanol, which would improve mileage.
“This discovery could reduce the cost to produce bio-butanol,” said Mullin.
“In addition to possible savings on the price per gallon, as a fuel, bio-butanol produced from cellulose would dramatically reduce carbon dioxide and smog emissions in comparison to gasoline, and have a positive impact on landfill waste.”
Gevo Receives Key Isobutanol Patent
Date Posted: December 8, 2011
Englewood, CO—Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO), a renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels company, received Dec. 6 a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) on another aspect of its yeast technology that enables the low-cost, high-yield production of biobased isobutanol.
Gevo was awarded U.S. Patent No. 8,017,358, covering additional “Methods of Increasing Dihydroxy Acid Dehydratase (DHAD) Activity to Improve Production of Fuels, Chemicals, and Amino Acids.”
“This invention further details and protects the innovations contained in the Gevo yeast organism to turn an industrial yeast strain into a highly efficient cell factory to produce isobutanol,” said Brett Lund, EVP & General Counsel of Gevo.
“We continue to expect the breadth and strength of our patent estate to grow considerably over the coming months as our patent applications convert into issued patents.”
It will take a lot of algae and land to make a dent in the use of gasoline in the U.S., but researchers at the University of Arkansas have developed a process they say could be commercialized within 5 years. A team of chemical engineers at the University of Arkansas has developed a method for converting common algae into butanol, a renewable fuel that can be used in existing combustible engines, according to a UA statement released Tuesday (Mar. 1). The conversion of algae to butanol was developed from a process now being used to clean excess nitrogen and phosphorous — primarily from fertilizer use — from lakes, rivers and other bodies of water. One of the “raceways” used to process algae. (photo courtesy University of Arkansas)
“We can make cars go,” said Jamie Hestekin, assistant professor and leader of the project, noted in the statement. “Our conversion process is efficient and inexpensive. Butanol has many advantages compared to ethanol, but the coolest thing about this process is that we’re actually making rivers and lakes healthier by growing and harvesting the raw material.” Although the process has been developed, don’t expect to soon see algae-produced butanol at your neighborhood gas station. “I think something like this could be commercialized in the timeframe of less than 5 years, but 5-10 years is probably the most realistic,” Hestekin said. Hestekin told The City Wire that conversion costs aren’t yet certain. “Right now, the conversion costs are still a little higher than we would like them to be but we are working hard to bring these costs down. I don't think we can give you an exact number yet but would be able to do that in a month or less,” Hestekin explained. Also, it’s not yet certain what system would be used to mass produce butanol. Hestekin said the team is looking at options. One option would be for small production areas that could be placed on or used by a family farm. “Another would be a 1000 acre clean-up system to go with a major waterway,” according to Hestekin. “This system could produce greater than 1 million gallons of butanol per year. Even one 1,000 acre system would make an impact on water clean-up and fuel potential!” Considering that 378 million gallons of gasoline a day was the average use in 2009, butanol may struggle to be a significant replacement based on the acreage required.
Big Boys are Interested
Highwater CEO: Biobutanol is 'next step in biofuels'
By Kris Bevill | December 06, 2011 DuPont research scientists at work in a biobutanol molecular biology lab. PHOTO: DUPONT
Lamberton, Minn.,-based Highwater Ethanol LLC has signed a letter of intent with Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC to potentially retrofit its 50 MMgy corn ethanol plant to produce biobutanol. The agreement makes Highwater the first entrant to the Butamax Early Adopters Group. “Butamax offers our shareholders both new technology, extensive engineering resources needed to retrofit our existing facility, and a commitment to the long-term success of the biofuels industry,” Highwater CEO Brian Kletscher said. “We are very excited about the letter of intent with Butamax and look forward to working with them in the advancement of biobutanol as the next-generation biofuel.” Discussions between Highwater and Butamax regarding the retrofit plans are expected to last through the coming year. Kletscher said that he is hopeful an agreement will be reached by the end of 2012 and that retrofit activities will begin in 2013. Highwater will continue to produce ethanol until the retrofits are complete. The company’s decision to explore biobutanol production was driven by a desire to be a leader in renewable fuels production, he said. “Butanol has a potential to be a drop-in fuel that can be utilized throughout the nation,” he said. “It’s the next step in biofuels.” Butamax, a joint venture between BP and DuPont, was formed in 2009 to commercialize the production of biobutanol. The company currently operates a demonstration-scale facility in Hull, England, as well as a technology laboratory in Paulinia, Brazil, which is focused on developing the sugarcane-to-biobutanol process. Its Early Adopters Group is expected to be comprised of the current ethanol operators willing to install Butamax’s proprietary biobutanol technology. Matrai, chief operating officer at Butamax, said relationships are currently being developed with a group of ethanol producers, including Highwater. “These facilities are among the most efficient, well-managed facilities in the United States,” he said, adding that his company is pleased to have begun talks with Highwater. “Highwater’s operational performance is among the best in the industry, making them an excellent biobutanol production partner.” According to Butamax, when blended at 16 percent volume, biobutanol delivers twice the energy content of 10 percent ethanol blends. The fuel is also compatible with current automobile engines and fuel infrastructure. Butamax said the favorable blending properties of biobutanol could reduce refiners’ cost of gasoline production and could also be used to comply with renewable fuel standard requirements.
Inexpensive Biofuels: Isobutanol Made Directly from Cellulose
ScienceDaily (Mar. 7, 2011) — In the quest for inexpensive biofuels, cellulose proved no match for a bioprocessing strategy and genetically engineered microbe developed by researchers at the Department of Energy's BioEnergy Science Center.
Using consolidated bioprocessing, a team led by James Liao of the University of California at Los Angeles for the first time produced isobutanol directly from cellulose. The team's work, published online in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, represents across-the-board savings in processing costs and time, plus isobutanol is a higher grade of alcohol than ethanol. "Unlike ethanol, isobutanol can be blended at any ratio with gasoline and should eliminate the need for dedicated infrastructure in tanks or vehicles," said Liao, chancellor's professor and vice chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science. "Plus, it may be possible to use isobutanol directly in current engines without modification." Compared to ethanol, higher alcohols such as isobutanol are better candidates for gasoline replacement because they have an energy density, octane value and Reid vapor pressure -- a measurement of volatility -- that is much closer to gasoline, Liao said. While cellulosic biomass like corn stover and switchgrass is abundant and cheap, it is much more difficult to utilize than corn and sugar cane. This is due in large part because of recalcitrance, or a plant's natural defenses to being chemically dismantled. Adding to the complexity is the fact biofuel production that involves several steps -- pretreatment, enzyme treatment and fermentation -- is more costly than a method that combines biomass utilization and the fermentation of sugars to biofuel into a single process. To make the conversion possible, Liao and postdoctoral researcher Wendy Higashide of UCLA and Yongchao Li and Yunfeng Yang of Oak Ridge National Laboratory had to develop a strain of Clostridium cellulolyticum, a native cellulose-degrading microbe, that could synthesize isobutanol directly from cellulose. "This work is based on our earlier work at UCLA in building a synthetic pathway for isobutanol production," Liao said. While some Clostridium species produce butanol, these organisms typically do not digest cellulose directly. Other Clostridium species digest cellulose but do not produce butanol. None produce isobutanol, an isomer of butanol. "In nature, no microorganisms have been identified that possess all of the characteristics necessary for the ideal consolidated bioprocessing strain, so we knew we had to genetically engineer a strain for this purpose," Li said. While there were many possible microbial candidates, the research team ultimately chose Clostridium cellulolyticum, which was originally isolated from decayed grass. The researchers noted that their strategy exploits the host's natural cellulolytic activity and the amino acid biosynthetic pathway and diverts its intermediates to produce higher alcohol than ethanol. The researchers also noted that Clostridium cellulolyticum has been genetically engineered to improve ethanol production, and this has led to additional more detailed research. Clostridium cellulolyticum has a sequenced genome available via DOE's Joint Genome Institute. This proof of concept research sets the stage for studies that will likely involve genetic manipulation of other consolidated bioprocessing microorganisms.
Why Butanol?
IIsobutanol
RINs
Why comeback?
Tulane University Researchers Discover Bacteria Strain That Converts Newsprint to Butanol
Date Posted: August 26, 2011Here’s one way that old-fashioned newsprint beats the Internet.
Tulane University scientists have discovered a novel bacterial strain, dubbed “TU-103,” that can use paper to produce butanol, a biofuel that can serve as a substitute for gasoline.
They are currently experimenting with old editions of the Times Picayune newspaper with great success.
TU-103 is the first bacterial strain from nature that produces butanol directly from cellulose, an organic compound.
“Cellulose is found in all green plants, and is the most abundant organic material on earth, and converting it into butanol is the dream of many,” said Harshad Velankar, a postdoctoral fellow in David Mullin’s lab in Tulane’s Department of Cell and Molecular Biology.
“In the United States alone, at least 323 million tons of cellulosic materials that could be used to produce butanol are thrown out each year.”
Mullin’s lab first identified TU-103 in animal droppings, cultivated it and developed a method for using it to produce butanol. A patent is pending on the process.
“Most important about this discovery is TU-103’s ability to produce butanol directly from cellulose,” explained Mullin.
He added that TU-103 is the only known butanol-producing clostridial strain that can grow and produce butanol in the presence of oxygen, which kills other butanol-producing bacteria.
Having to produce butanol in an oxygen-free space increases the costs of production.
As a biofuel, butanol is superior to ethanol (commonly produced from corn sugar) because it can readily fuel existing motor vehicles without any modifications to the engine, can be transported through existing fuel pipelines, is less corrosive, and contains more energy than ethanol, which would improve mileage.
“This discovery could reduce the cost to produce bio-butanol,” said Mullin.
“In addition to possible savings on the price per gallon, as a fuel, bio-butanol produced from cellulose would dramatically reduce carbon dioxide and smog emissions in comparison to gasoline, and have a positive impact on landfill waste.”
Gevo Receives Key Isobutanol Patent
Date Posted: December 8, 2011Englewood, CO—Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO), a renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels company, received Dec. 6 a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) on another aspect of its yeast technology that enables the low-cost, high-yield production of biobased isobutanol.
Gevo was awarded U.S. Patent No. 8,017,358, covering additional “Methods of Increasing Dihydroxy Acid Dehydratase (DHAD) Activity to Improve Production of Fuels, Chemicals, and Amino Acids.”
“This invention further details and protects the innovations contained in the Gevo yeast organism to turn an industrial yeast strain into a highly efficient cell factory to produce isobutanol,” said Brett Lund, EVP & General Counsel of Gevo.
“We continue to expect the breadth and strength of our patent estate to grow considerably over the coming months as our patent applications convert into issued patents.”
Butamax Sues Again
UA team converts algae into fuel
Submitted by The City Wire staff on Tue, 03/01/2011 - 6:02pm.
- Add new comment
It will take a lot of algae and land to make a dent in the use of gasoline in the U.S., but researchers at the University of Arkansas have developed a process they say could be commercialized within 5 years.A team of chemical engineers at the University of Arkansas has developed a method for converting common algae into butanol, a renewable fuel that can be used in existing combustible engines, according to a UA statement released Tuesday (Mar. 1).
The conversion of algae to butanol was developed from a process now being used to clean excess nitrogen and phosphorous — primarily from fertilizer use — from lakes, rivers and other bodies of water.
“We can make cars go,” said Jamie Hestekin, assistant professor and leader of the project, noted in the statement. “Our conversion process is efficient and inexpensive. Butanol has many advantages compared to ethanol, but the coolest thing about this process is that we’re actually making rivers and lakes healthier by growing and harvesting the raw material.”
Although the process has been developed, don’t expect to soon see algae-produced butanol at your neighborhood gas station.
“I think something like this could be commercialized in the timeframe of less than 5 years, but 5-10 years is probably the most realistic,” Hestekin said.
Hestekin told The City Wire that conversion costs aren’t yet certain.
“Right now, the conversion costs are still a little higher than we would like them to be but we are working hard to bring these costs down. I don't think we can give you an exact number yet but would be able to do that in a month or less,” Hestekin explained.
Also, it’s not yet certain what system would be used to mass produce butanol. Hestekin said the team is looking at options. One option would be for small production areas that could be placed on or used by a family farm.
“Another would be a 1000 acre clean-up system to go with a major waterway,” according to Hestekin. “This system could produce greater than 1 million gallons of butanol per year. Even one 1,000 acre system would make an impact on water clean-up and fuel potential!”
Considering that 378 million gallons of gasoline a day was the average use in 2009, butanol may struggle to be a significant replacement based on the acreage required.
Big Boys are Interested
Highwater CEO: Biobutanol is 'next step in biofuels'
By Kris Bevill | December 06, 2011
DuPont research scientists at work in a biobutanol molecular biology lab. PHOTO: DUPONT
Lamberton, Minn.,-based Highwater Ethanol LLC has signed a letter of intent with Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC to potentially retrofit its 50 MMgy corn ethanol plant to produce biobutanol. The agreement makes Highwater the first entrant to the Butamax Early Adopters Group.
“Butamax offers our shareholders both new technology, extensive engineering resources needed to retrofit our existing facility, and a commitment to the long-term success of the biofuels industry,” Highwater CEO Brian Kletscher said. “We are very excited about the letter of intent with Butamax and look forward to working with them in the advancement of biobutanol as the next-generation biofuel.”
Discussions between Highwater and Butamax regarding the retrofit plans are expected to last through the coming year. Kletscher said that he is hopeful an agreement will be reached by the end of 2012 and that retrofit activities will begin in 2013. Highwater will continue to produce ethanol until the retrofits are complete. The company’s decision to explore biobutanol production was driven by a desire to be a leader in renewable fuels production, he said. “Butanol has a potential to be a drop-in fuel that can be utilized throughout the nation,” he said. “It’s the next step in biofuels.”
Butamax, a joint venture between BP and DuPont, was formed in 2009 to commercialize the production of biobutanol. The company currently operates a demonstration-scale facility in Hull, England, as well as a technology laboratory in Paulinia, Brazil, which is focused on developing the sugarcane-to-biobutanol process. Its Early Adopters Group is expected to be comprised of the current ethanol operators willing to install Butamax’s proprietary biobutanol technology. Matrai, chief operating officer at Butamax, said relationships are currently being developed with a group of ethanol producers, including Highwater. “These facilities are among the most efficient, well-managed facilities in the United States,” he said, adding that his company is pleased to have begun talks with Highwater. “Highwater’s operational performance is among the best in the industry, making them an excellent biobutanol production partner.”
According to Butamax, when blended at 16 percent volume, biobutanol delivers twice the energy content of 10 percent ethanol blends. The fuel is also compatible with current automobile engines and fuel infrastructure. Butamax said the favorable blending properties of biobutanol could reduce refiners’ cost of gasoline production and could also be used to comply with renewable fuel standard requirements.
USDA RESEARCH
Inexpensive Biofuels: Isobutanol Made Directly from Cellulose
ScienceDaily (Mar. 7, 2011) — In the quest for inexpensive biofuels, cellulose proved no match for a bioprocessing strategy and genetically engineered microbe developed by researchers at the Department of Energy's BioEnergy Science Center.Using consolidated bioprocessing, a team led by James Liao of the University of California at Los Angeles for the first time produced isobutanol directly from cellulose. The team's work, published online in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, represents across-the-board savings in processing costs and time, plus isobutanol is a higher grade of alcohol than ethanol.
"Unlike ethanol, isobutanol can be blended at any ratio with gasoline and should eliminate the need for dedicated infrastructure in tanks or vehicles," said Liao, chancellor's professor and vice chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science. "Plus, it may be possible to use isobutanol directly in current engines without modification."
Compared to ethanol, higher alcohols such as isobutanol are better candidates for gasoline replacement because they have an energy density, octane value and Reid vapor pressure -- a measurement of volatility -- that is much closer to gasoline, Liao said.
While cellulosic biomass like corn stover and switchgrass is abundant and cheap, it is much more difficult to utilize than corn and sugar cane. This is due in large part because of recalcitrance, or a plant's natural defenses to being chemically dismantled.
Adding to the complexity is the fact biofuel production that involves several steps -- pretreatment, enzyme treatment and fermentation -- is more costly than a method that combines biomass utilization and the fermentation of sugars to biofuel into a single process.
To make the conversion possible, Liao and postdoctoral researcher Wendy Higashide of UCLA and Yongchao Li and Yunfeng Yang of Oak Ridge National Laboratory had to develop a strain of Clostridium cellulolyticum, a native cellulose-degrading microbe, that could synthesize isobutanol directly from cellulose. "This work is based on our earlier work at UCLA in building a synthetic pathway for isobutanol production," Liao said.
While some Clostridium species produce butanol, these organisms typically do not digest cellulose directly. Other Clostridium species digest cellulose but do not produce butanol. None produce isobutanol, an isomer of butanol.
"In nature, no microorganisms have been identified that possess all of the characteristics necessary for the ideal consolidated bioprocessing strain, so we knew we had to genetically engineer a strain for this purpose," Li said.
While there were many possible microbial candidates, the research team ultimately chose Clostridium cellulolyticum, which was originally isolated from decayed grass. The researchers noted that their strategy exploits the host's natural cellulolytic activity and the amino acid biosynthetic pathway and diverts its intermediates to produce higher alcohol than ethanol.
The researchers also noted that Clostridium cellulolyticum has been genetically engineered to improve ethanol production, and this has led to additional more detailed research. Clostridium cellulolyticum has a sequenced genome available via DOE's Joint Genome Institute. This proof of concept research sets the stage for studies that will likely involve genetic manipulation of other consolidated bioprocessing microorganisms.
Non Petroleum dependent?